Echinacea or famously known as purple coneflower is an herb traditionally used for treating common Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs) like colds and flu. This flowering plant is also claimed to boost the immune system that helps the body fight infections. Echinacea is a native plant of North America and every year, Americans spend approximately $300 million for its usage in treating infections and other health purposes. Echinacea is available as teas, squeezed juice, extracts, and other preparations derived from its flower, leaves, and roots. Echinacea is perhaps one of the most studied American herbs as there are more claims to Echinacea’s efficacy in treating other health problems.

Echinacea Benefits and Functions

• Echinacea improves the symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections like the common cold and flu. Maximum potency of Echinacea is achieved if the URTIs are early diagnosed and treatment with Echinacea is continued for 7-10 days.
• Echinacea boosts the immune system by promoting T-cell activation and stimulating the immune system’s activity.
• When used externally, Echinacea is claimed to be useful in treating skin problems like acne, psoriasis, skin infections, eczema, inflammatory skin diseases, and wounds. It also promotes skin regeneration.
• Echinacea may also be helpful in other infections like UTI and other minor localized infections.
• Echinacea can also improve the symptoms of enlarged lymph glands and sore throat.
• Echinacea may help fight some vaginal infections like herpes and candida when used with medicated creams.
• Echinacea is also thought to help people with migraine headaches.
• Echinacea may offer some benefits to patients afflicted with low-grade uveitis, an eye inflammation.

Echinacea Side Effects

There are very few known side effects of Echinacea. The most common is its unpleasant taste. Other Echinacea side effects include allergic reactions like rashes and difficulty in breathing, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth, sore throat, headache, dizziness, disorientation, and muscle and joint pains.

Contraindications

• Echinacea is not recommended for patients with autoimmune disorders and other immune system conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
• It is also contraindicated in a skin disease called pemphigus vulgaris.
• Echinacea is not to be used for patients with Tuberculosis.
• People with asthma or a condition with increased risk towards allergic reactions should take Echinacea with added precaution.
• Echinacea is not recommended for use with pregnant and nursing women.

Drug Interactions

Echinacea is considered to be hepato-toxic, or which that can cause liver toxicity. Echinacea is not to be taken with other medicines which are also toxic to the liver such as acetaminophen, methotrexate, isoniazide, anabolic steroids, amiodarone, and ketoconazole.

Echinacea may also cause some adverse effects when taken with drugs that suppress the immune system. It counteracts Echinacea’s ability of immune system stimulation. These drugs include antibiotics like cyclosporine, steroids like prednisone, and azathioprine.